Selector valve with automatic return



Feb. 22, 1944. RQB. CAMPBELL SELECTOR VALVE WITH AUTOMATIC RETURN l2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec ma I 25 L/ fee/l24 HIV zo 252e a/azza a5 Feb. 22, 1944. R. B. CAMPBELL SELECTOR VALVE WITH AUTOMATIC RETURN Filed Deo.

2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 a a? c/ 5 a L/ am 6 uw 5 ww, U 5 R M P HN a Gmm m m @N T GMBF A y, wfmgw w ,Nm a o6 M-Rm Z M M V,H M a J Patented Feb. 22, 1944 SELECTOR VALVE RET WITH AUTOMATIC URN Rodney B. Campbell, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to John Eley, Jr.. Los Angeles, Calif.

Application f-December 12, 1941, Serial No. 422,665

13 Claims.

My invention relates to the fluid valve art and more particularly to a selector valve device.

The invention is of particular utility in hydraulic control systems for aircraft and will be described in connectio'ntherewith, although it is to be understood that the invention has other uses and I do not desire to be limited to the spe cific use described.

Hydraulic control systems `are now widely used on aircraft for operating and controlling the operation of many of the devices on an airplane. For example, such iiuid control systems are commonly used to raise and lower theaircraft landing gear, wing naps, tail wheels, and other operating units of the airplane. It is standard practice to accomplish these results with such a hydreulic system by alternately admitting the operating fluid yfromthe system into opposite ends of an actuating cylinder having a piston therein which is connected by a suitable piston rod to the device to be mechanically moved, such as the landing gear. Thus, when operating fluid is admitted to one end of theactuating cylinder, the

landing gear is raised to retracted position, and

"when fluid is admitted to the other end of the actuating cylinder, the landing gear is lowered from retracted to extended position. O1' course, when one end ofthe actuating cylinder is opened to the operating fluid, which is normallyunder relatively high pressure (usually in the neighborhood of 1000 pounds per square inch), the other end of the cylinder must be opened to discharge, and vice versa. To accomplish this selective admittance of operating fluid from the hydraulic system to the actuating cylinder, it is customary to use a selector valve device, of which there are many types available in the` art.

I prefer to use such a selector valve device in connection with an actuating cylinder having a piston therein, the selector valve including a movable valve member which can be selectively adjusted to either of three positions, i. e.: (a) a rst operating position in which one end of the actuating cylinder is connected to the hydraulic supply system and the other end is connected to low pressure discharge: `(b) a second operating position in which the iluid connections to the actuating cylinder are reversed; and (c) athird, or neutral, position in which the fluid supply ports to the actuating cylinder are closed and the operating fluid merely circulates from` the high pressure side to the low pressure side of the system through the selector valve. I also prefer to use a selector valve device of such type which will always automatically return to its neutral psition at the conclusion of movement oi the actuating cylinder piston in either direction. This ls accomplished by utilizing the natural rise in iluid pressure in the supply line upon completion of a stroke of the actuating cylinder piston to return the valve to its neutral position.

Such a selector valve device ordinarily is provided with a movable valve member which is movable irom either of its operating positions toward its neutral. position by the application of operating iluid under pressure to the ends of the valve member.l There is a common tendency in such devices, however, for the valve member to stop between an operating position and-its neutrai position because of so-called knifing of the flow through the main ports of the `valve member. Consequently, it is a primary object of my present invention to overcome this tendency by introducing an additional charge of operating iluid under increased pressure to the end of the valve member during its travel from an operating position to its neutral position, to accelerate its movement as the main valve ports are closed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specication and the drawings. which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the invention, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device taken from the right-hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged right-hand end of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the valve piston of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the `line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill- I 0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11v is a diagrammatic view of my invention showing it installed in a preferred hydraulic system and in a first operating position.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing merely the invention in an intermediate position of operation.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. l1 but illustrating my device in its neutral position.

sectional view of the ing 26 having a longitudinal bore 2| therein in which is disposed a bushing sleeve 22, which is `preferably hardened to resist wear. Formed on the main housing, and preferably diametrically disposed, is an inlet boss 23 having a threaded inlet port 24 therein and a discharge boss 25 having avdischarge port 26 therein. 'Ihe bushing sleeve 22 is provided with an inlet .opening 28 which registers with the inlet port 24, and is provided with a discharge opening 29 which registers with the discharge port 26.

Disposed in the bushing sleeve 22 is a valve means 36 which includes a piston valve member 3| axially movable in the bushing sleeve. Connected to the rightward end of the piston valve member 3|. as seen in the drawings, is a valve actuating means 32, which includes an actuating rod 33, one end oi which is rigidly connected to the piston valve member 3|, and the other end of which extends out of the main housing 20 and is provided with a ilat end portion 34 having a. horizontal hole 35 drilled therein. Pivotal- 1y connected to the nat end portion 34 of the actuating rod 33, as by a pivot pin 31 passing through clevis arms 38 thereof, is an actuating lever 39 which in turn is pivotally mounted as by a pivot pin 40 to a plate member 4| secured, as by suitable bolts 42, to the main housing 28. As best shown in Fig. 5,` the actuating lever 39 is tubular in form and is provided with a cylindrical bore 44 having a slot 45 therethrough through which extends the plate member 4|. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the outer end of the plate member 4| is substantially Y-shaped, .being provided with legs 46 and 41 separated by an arcuate valley 48 and being provided on their ends with ilat, angularly disposed faces 49 and 50, respectively. Slidably mounted in the lower end of the actuating lever 39 is a cup-shaped sleeve 52, the upper end of which is provided with clevis arms 53 between which is pivoted, as by a cross pin 54, a cam roller 55, which is supported on suitable ball bearings on the cross pin. The' cam roller 55 is normally held in pressure engagement with the end of the plate member 4| bya spring '56, one end of which engages the cup-shaped sleeve 52, and the other end of which engages the inner end of a plug 51 suitably threaded onto the lower end of the tubular actuating lever 39.

Closing the right-hand end of the longitudinal bore 2| of the housing 29 is a closure member -59 which includes a spacer ring 68 of annular form held in engagement 'with the righthand end of the bushing sleeve 22 by a packing gland 6| which is threaded into the right-hand end of' the longitudinal bore 2 Retained within the packing gland 6| is an annular chevron packing member 62 which surrounds the actuating rod 33 and forms a fluid-tight seal. between the packing gland 6| and the rod 33, the chevron packing member being held in sealing relation by a spring 63 which engages the same and which also engages the spacer ring 60. The left-hand end of the longitudinal bore 2| is similarly closed by a closure means 64 which is in all respects identical with the closure means 59 and forms a seal with a balancing rod 65 rigidly connected to the other or leftward end of the piston valve member 3|. The balancing rod 65 is provided so that the pressure areas of the opposite ends of the piston valve member 3| are equal, so as to provide a piston having hydraulically balanced ends.

As best shown in Fig. l, the main housing 29 is provided with a boss 61 having a threaded first supply port 68 formed therein which is provided with an inner smaller bore 69 which extends upwardly into the main housing 26. Similarly provided on the main housing is a boss 10, which is longitudinally aligned with the boss 61, and which is provided with a threaded second supply port 1| having an upwardly extending inner bore 12 similar to the inner bore 69. As will be noted, the inner bore 69 communicates with the interior of the bushing sleeve 22 through a radial port 14 formed in the bushing sleeve, and the inner bore 12 similarly communicates with the interior of the bushing sleeve through a radial port 15 formed therein, as best shown in Fig. 6.

l close the valve opening 85.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the main housing 20 is "provided at its leftward side with a first auxiliary valve means 16 and at its rightward side with a second auxiliary valve means 11, which are in all respects -identicaland consequently only the rst auxiliary valve means 16 will be described in detail, it being shown in Fig. 6. The iirst auxiliary valve means 16 includes a boss 18 formed on the housing 28, which is provided with a central bore 19, the outer end of which is suitably internally threaded. Axially aligned with the bore 19 and communicating with the inner bore 12 of the second supply port 1| is a drilled hole 80. Provided in. the inner end of thebore 19 is anY annular spacer washer 8| which is engaged by the inner end of a valve seat cage 83 which is provided with an annular valve seat 84 having a central valve opening 85 therein which communicates with a drilled hole 80. The outer end of the valve seat cage 83 is provided with a central chamber 86 which communicates through radial ports 81 with an annular space 88 `surrounding the valve seat cage. The valve seat cage 83 is held in place in the bore 19 by a valve guide ring 89 threaded into the outer end of the bore 19 and having an axial opening 9| therein which is axially aligned with the annular valve seat 84. Disposed in the central chamber 86 is a ball valve element 92 which is adapted to seat on the annular valve seat 84 to The ball valve element 92 is normally held in seated position on the annular valve seat 84 by a stern member 93 projecting through the axial opening 9| into engagement with the ball valve element and provided on its outer end with an engaging ring 94 engaged by a compression spring 95 retained in a cup-shaped retaining plug 96 which is threaded into the outer end of the bore 19 and into retaining engagement with the valve guide ring 89. Disposed around the stem member 93 is an annular chevron packing member 91 which prevents iluid leakage along the stem member 93. The

outer end of the compression spring 95 engages intersects a counterbore |05 formed at the leftward end of the longitudinal bore 2|. The second auxiliary valve means 11 is similarly connected by means of a passage |06, similar-to the passage with a drilled opening |01, similar to the drilled opening |02. the outer end of the drilled opening |01 being provided with a threadcd machine screw |03, similar to the screw |03, and the inner end of the opening |01 communicating with a counterbore |09 formed at the rightward end of the longitudinal bore 2|. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a bleeder passage ||0 communicates between the discharge port 26 and the drilled opening |01. Adapted to project into the bleeder passage |I0 is a head formed on the inner end of a bleeder screw ||2 which is threaded into the main housing 20, the bleeder screw being provided with a dust cap ||3 at its outer end which also acts as a lock nut to maintain the bleeder screw in a desired adjusted position. The iirst auxiliary valve means 16 is similarly provided with a bleeder passage ||4 which communicates between the drilled opening |02 and the discharge port 26, and has projecting thereinto a bleeder screw ||1 similar to the bleeder screw ||2, the inner end ||5 of which can be seen in Fig. 2, the outer end of which is suitably covered by a dust cap ||6 similar to the dust cap ||3. Also communicating between the bleeder passage ||0 and the longitudinal bore 2| is a drilled passage ||8, the outer end of which is closed by a machine screw ||9 and the inner end of which registers with a port |20 formed in the bushing sleeve 22. The iirst auxiliary valve means 16 is provided with a similar drilled passage 2|, shown only in Figs. 11 to 13, the outer end of which is closed by a machine screw |22.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the counter-v.

bore |09 communicates with the interior of the bushing sleeve 22 through angled ports |24 in the end thereof so as to provide fluid communication between the counterbore and the interior off the right-hand end of the bushing sleeve 22. Similarly, the counterbore |05 at the leftward end of the longitudinal bore 2| is connected through an annular port |26 formed at the leftward end of the bushing sleeve 22 with the interior of the left-hand end thereof and so as to aiord uid communication between the counterbore |05 and the left-hand end |21 of the piston valve member 3|. The counterbore |09 also communicates with the interior of the bushing sleeve 22 through arcuate slots |28 formed therein, and the counterbore |05 also communicates with the interior of the bushing sleeve through arcuate slots |29 formed therein.

.The piston valve member 3|, best shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, includes a main flow passage |30 which is centrally located in the valve member so that when the valve member is in an intermediate or neutral position the main flow passage is substantially axially aligned with the inlet and discharge ports 24 and 26, respectively. Formed in one side of the piston valve member 3| and intersecting the main flow passage |30 is a central arcuate groove |32. Formed in thc opposite side of the valve member 3| and diametrically opposed to the central arcuate groove |32 are aligned offset arcuate grooves |33 and |34 respectively, neither of which communicates directly with the main flow passage |30. Formed on the piston valve member 3| on each side of the grooves |33 and |34, and on the opposite side of the piston member from the central arcuate groove |32, are balancing channels |35 and |36 which communicate with the discharge end of the main passage |30 through a cut-away space |3| formed in the piston member 3|. The areas of the balancing channels |35 and |36 are so designed that when fluid under pressure is admitted thereto from the main now passage |30, the pressure exerted thereby on the piston valve member 3| will be substantially equal and opposite to the pressure exerted by such fluid in the central arcuate groove |32, thus preventing the piston valve member from binding in the bushing sleeve 22. Formed in the leftward end of the piston valve member 3| is a first transverse passage |36 which communicates at its ends with relief spaces |39 in the opposite sides of the piston valve member, and which communicates through an oblique passage |40 with the central arcuate groove |32.

Similarly, formed in the rightward end of thc piston valve member 3| is a second transverse passage 4| which communicates at its ends with relief spaces |42 diametrically formed in the sides of the piston valve member, and which communicates through an angled passage |43 with the central arcuate groove |32.

Referring to Fig. 11, I show the main housing 20 connected into a fluid pressure system, which is diagrammatically illustrated.. This nuid pressure system includes a high pressure pump |45, of any suitable type well known in the art, which drawsv operating fluid from a reservoir |46, normally retained at relatively low pressure, through a pipe |41, and pumps it through an inlet pipe |48 which is suitably threaded into the inlet port 24 of the main housing 20. Threaded into the rst supply port 66 is a pipe |49 which communicates with one end of a iiuid cylinder |50 having a sliding piston |52 therein to which is connected a piston rod |53 which extends out of the fluid cylinder and which may be attached to any device desired to be operated thereby. As will be understood, the fluid cylinder |50 may be of any type well known in the art. The other end of the fluid cylinder |50 is connected by a pipe |54 into the second supply port 1| into which it is threaded. Threadedly connected into the discharge port 26 is a discharge pipe |55 which leads back to the reservoir |46.

The operation of the device will be best understood by referring to the diagrammatic Figs. 11, 12 and 13. In operation, the piston valve member 3| is normally in a central or neutral position, in which it is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 13. As best shown in Fig. 13, in this neutral position operating fluid pumped through the pipe |49 by the high pressure pump |45 enters the main housing 20 through the inlet port 24 and passes through the central arcuate groove |32 and the main iiow passage |30 directly through the piston valve member 3| and through the discharge port 26 into the discharge pipe |55 and is conveyed therethrough back into the reservoir `|46. As will be noted, in this neutral position the valve actuating means 32 is in the central or neutral position shown in Fig. 5. Operating fluid thus continues to circulate freely through the selector valve until the piston valve member 3| is moved as described hereinafter.`

When it is desired to move the iluid piston |52 to the right in the fluid cylinder |50, the actuating lever 39 of the valve actuatingmeans 32 is moved to the left so as to rotate it in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 40 from the position shown in Fig. 5 tothe position shown in Fig. 1. As the actuating lever 39 is thus 17otated in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 40, the cam roller 55 rides from the arcuate valley 48 of the plate member 4| down the inner side of the leg 46 thereof and onto the face 49 formed on'the lower end of the leg 46, thus compressing the spring 56. Such clockwise rotation of the actuating lever 39 causes the actuating rod 33 connected thereto to move to the right to the position shown in Fig. 1, moving with it the piston valve member 3| to the position shown in Fig. 11, which may be referred to as a irst operating position.

In the rst operating position of the piston valve member 3|, as shown in Fig. 11, the main ilow passage |30 of the piston valve member registers with the iirst supply port 68, having moved out of registry with the discharge port 26, and, since the central arcuate groove |32 remains at all times in registry with the inlet port 24, operating iiuid under pressure flows from the pressure pump |45 through the central arcuate grove |32 and the main ow passage |30 and outwardly through the iirst supply port 60 and the pipe |49 to the right-hand end of the fluid cylinder |50. In this position of operation, as will be noted from Fig. 11, the second supply port 'il is connected through the oiset arcuate groove |33 with the discharge port 26. Consequently, operating fluid under high pressure in the right-hand end of the fluid cylinder 150 causes the fluid piston |52 therein to move to the left, carrying with it the piston rod |53, and any fluid ahead of the iluid piston in the uid cylinder is forced out therefrom through the pipe |54 and carried back to the reservoir |46 through the arcuateV4 groove |34, the discharge port 26 and the pipe |55. When the uid piston |52 reaches the left-hand end of its stroke -in the fluid cylinder |50, it can travel no farther and'stops. When this occurs, the uid pressure in the right-hand supply port 68 through the inner bore 69 and the second auxiliary valve means 11, which is in y all respects identical with the rst auxiliary valve means 18, opens to permit operating uid under pressure to pass from the supply port 68 through the second auxiliary valve means Tl and the passages |86 and |01 into the counterbore |09 at the rightward end of the bushing sleeve 22, from whence the operating fluid under pressure flows through the angled ports |24 to the righthand end |25v of the piston valve member 3|, to exert a fluid pressure thereon. As best shown in Fig. 11, the left-handy end |21 of the piston valve member 3| is open to discharge pressure through the drilled passage |2| and the discharge port Consequently, when high pressure operating fluid flows as described to the right-hand end of the`piston valve member 3|, the piston valve member moves to the left from the position shown in Fig. 11 toward the neutral position shown in Fig. 13.. i g

It is to be noted that when the'piston vvalve member 3| is in its first operating position, as shown in Fig. 1l, the relief spaces |42 in the side of the piston valve member are out of registry with the arcuate slots |28, although the relief spaces |42 are filled with operating fluid under inlet pressure supplied through the second transverse passage |4| and the angled passage |43 from the central arcuate groove: |32. Thus, when the piston valve member 3| has moved to the left from the position shown in .associated passages.

Iig.` 11 to the postlon shown in Fig. 12 by reason of the force exerted on the right-hand end |25 thereof by operating iiuid, the relief spaces |42 register with the arcuate slots |28 formed in the bushing sleeve 22. This permits a direct iiow of operating uid under substantially inlet pressure from the central arcuate groove |32 through the angled passage |43 and the relief spaces |42, through the arcuate slots |28, the counterbore |09, and the angled ports |24 to the right-hand end |25 of the piston valve member 3|. When the piston valve member 3| starts to move from the position shown in Fig. 11 toward the position shown in. Fig. 13, this movement is relatively slow due to the pressure drop in the second auxiliary valve means and However, as soon as the relief spaces |42 in the sides of the piston valve member 3| register with the arcuate slots |28 to provide a more direct ow of operating iluid to the right-hand enel |25 of the piston valve member, the leftward rate of movement of the piston valve member is accelerated by this additional inlet of high pressure operating uid to the right-hand end thereof. It is also to be noted that this direct communication between the central arcuate groove |32 and the rightward end |2501? the piston valve member 3| through the angled passage |43 occurs just prior to the time when the main flow passage |30 moves out of registry with the iirst supply port 68. This insures a full and steady supply of operating iiuid under substantial pressure to the right-hand end |25 of the piston valve member 3| during its entire movement from the iirst operating position shown in Fig. 11 to the neutral position shown in Fig. 13, and hence prevents so-called knifing" of the iluid ow from the main flow passage |30A to the rst supply port 68 as fluid communication is shut oi therebetween, and this is an important feature of my invention.

It is also to be noted that leftward movement of the piston valve member 3| causes a similar movement of the actuating rod 33, which in turn rotates the actuating lever v39 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot pin 40., This causes the cam roller to approach the curved side of the leg 46 leading into the arcuate valley 48 of the plate member 4|. and at approximately the same time that the relief spaces |42 of the piston valve member 3| register with the arcuate slots |28 of the sleeve bushing 22 the cam roller moves off the flat face 49 of the leg 46 of the plate member 4I toward the bottom of the arcuate valley 48 formed therein. As soon as this occurs, the spring 56 forces the cam roller 55 upwardly along the leg 46 to exert a relatively strong cam action accelerating the leftward movement of the actuating rod 33 and consequently the piston vaive member 3|. This increases the acceleration of the piston valve member 3| in its left-ward movement and, together with the increased ilow of high pressure `operating uid through the angled passage |43 to the rightward end |25 of the piston valve member 3|, snaps the piston valve member through the remainder of its leftward movement to the central or neutral position shown in Fig. 13. As the piston valve member 3| approaches the neutral position shown in Fig. 13, the main iiow passage |30 registers with the discharge port 26 to resume free circulation of operating fluid through the selector valve from the pressure pump |45 to the reservoir |46. When the cam roller 55 of the valve actuating means 32 seats in the arcuate valley 48 of the plate member 4|, the.counterclockwise rotation of the actuating lever 39 stops by the tension of the spring 56, and the piston valve 3| is re*- tained thereby in the neutral position shown in Fig. 13.

When it is desired to move the iluid piston |52 from the left-hand end to the right-hand end of the iiuid cylinder |50, the actuating lever 39 of the actuatingmeans 32 is rotated on the pivot pin 40 in a counterclockwise direction until the cam roller 55 indexes on the -at face 50 of the leg 41 of the plate member 4|, at which time the piston valve member 3| is moved to the extreme left to a second operating position in which uid can iiow therethrough to the second support port 1| and consequently to the left-hand end of the fluid cylinder |50.

The operation of the device when in the second operating position is identical with that described for the :first operating position except that the iiow of operating fluid to the cylinder |50 is through the passages and ports formed in the left half of the main housing 20 and the piston valve member 3|, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

The automatic return from the second operating position to the neutral position is identical with that described in connection with the return from the iirst operating position to the neutral position, except reversed in direction.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that certain parts and elements thereof may be replaced by other parts having the same function and mode of operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, and, consequently, I do not intend to be limited to the embodiment disclosed but desire to be afforded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing; inlet port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under relatively high pressure; discharge port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a point of discharge at relatively low pressure; a supply port in said housing; movable valve means in said housing which is movable to a neutral position in which said inlet port is connected to said discharge port, or to an operating position in which said supply port is connected to said inlet port; means for moving said valve means from said neutral position to said operating position; means for automatically returning said valve means from said operating position to said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in iluid pressure in said supply port; and hydraulic means operatively connected to said valve means for accelerating its rate of movement from said operating position to said neutral position.

2. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing; inlet port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a source of iluid under relatively high pressure; discharge port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a point of discharge at relatively low pressure; a rst supply port in said housing; a second supply port in said housing; movable valve means in said housing which is movable to a, neutral position in which said inlet port is connected to said discharge port, or to a first operating position in which said first supply said iirst or second port is connected to said inlet port, or to a second operating position in which said second supply port is connected to said inlet port; means for moving said valve means from said neutral position to either said rst or second operating positions means for automatically returning said valve means from said ilrst operating position to said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in uid pressure in said iirst supply port, and from said second operating position to said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in iluid pressure in said second supply port; and hydraulic means operatively connected to said valve means for accelerating its rate of movement from either of said operating positions to said neutral position 3. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing; inlet port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under relatively high pressure; discharge port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a point of discharge at relatively low pressure; a supply port in said housing; movable valve means in said housing which is movable to a neutral position in which said inlet port is connected to said discharge port, or to an operating position in which said supply port is connected to said inlet port; means for moving said valve means from said neutral position to said operating position; hydraulic means for automatically starting the return of said valve means from said operating position to said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in iluid pressure in said supply port; and supplementary hydraulic means operatively connected to said valve means for accelerating said movement Vof said valve means from said operating position to said neutral position.

4. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing; inlet port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a source of iiuid under relatively high pressure;

discharge port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a point of discharge at relatively low pressure; a rst supply port in said housing; a second supply port in said housing; movable valve means in said housing vwhich is movable to a neutral position in which said inlet port is connected to said discharge port, or to a first operating position in which said iirst supply port is connected to said inlet port, or to a second operating position in which said second supply port is connected to said inlet port; means for moving said valve means from said neutral position to either operating positions; hydraulic means for automatically starting the return of said valve means from said first operating position to said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in iluid pressure in said iirst supply portvand from said second operating position to said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in iiuid pressure in said second supply port; and suppleoperating positions to said neutral position.

5. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of a valve housing; inlet port means in said housing adapted to be low pressure; a supply port in said housing; movable valve means in said housing which is movable to a neutral position in which said inlet port is connected to said discharge port, or to an operating position in which said supply port is connected to said inlet port; means i'or moving said valve means .from said neutral position to said operating position; piston means operatively connected to said valve means; main passage means communicating between one end of said piston and said supply port; an auxiliary valve in said main passage adapted to open in responseto a predetermined rise in iluid pressure in said supply port to permit uid to iiow from said supply port to said one end of said piston to move the same together with said valve means from said operating position toward said neutral position; and an auxiliary passage adapted to communicate between said inlet port and said one end of said piston when said piston has moved to a position intermediate between said operating position and said neutral position. v

6. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing; inlet port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under relatively high pressure; discharge port means in said housing adapted to be connected to a point of discharge at relatively low pressure; a supply port `in said housing; movable valve means in said housing which is movable to a neutral position in which said inlet port is connected to said discharge port, or to an operating position in which said supply port is connected to said inlet port; means for moving said valve means from said neutral position to said operating position; piston means operatively connected to said valve means; main passage means communicating between one end of said piston and said supply port; an auxiliary valve in said main passage adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in fluid pressure in said supply port to permit uid to iiow from said supply port to said one end of said piston to move the same together with said valve means from said operating position toward said neutral position; an auxiliary passage adapted to communicate between said inlet port and said one end oi said piston when said piston has moved to a position intermediate between said operating position and said neutral position; a bleeder passage communicating between said main passage and said discharge port; and a bleeder valve in said bleeder passage adapted to throttle fluid flow therethrough.

A'7. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, an inlet port in said housing communicating with said bore, a discharge port in said housing communicating with said bore, and a supply port in said housing communicating with said bore; cylindrical piston means in said bore and having a main iiuid passage therein, said piston means being axially movableA in'said bore between a neutral position in which said main uid passage connects said inlet port and said discharge port and an operating position in which said main fluid passage connects said inlet port and said supply port; means for axially moving said piston means from said neutral position to said operating position; primary hydraulic means for automatically starting the return movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position; and secondary hydraulic means for assisting in the movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position.

8. In a valve device for a hydraulic system,

combination of: a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, an inlet port in said houslng communicating with said bore, a discharge port in said housing communicating with said bore, and a supply port in said housing communieating with said bore; cylindrical piston means in said bore and having a main fluid passage therein, said piston means being axially movable in said bore between a neutral position in which said main iiuid passage connects said inlet port and said discharge port and an operating position in which said main iluid passage connects said inlet port and said supply port; rod means operatively connected to said piston means and extending out of said housing; spring means connected to said rod means for accelerating movement of said rod means and said piston means when said piston means moves between said operating position and said neutral position; primary hydraulic means for automatically starting return movement of said piston means from said operating position toward said neutral position upon a predetermined rise in :duid pressure in said supply port; and secondary hydraulic means for completing the movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position.

9. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, an inlet port in said housing communicating with said bore, a discharge port in said housing communicating with said bore, and a supply port in said housing communieating with said bore; cylindrical piston means in said bore and having a main fluid passage therein, said piston' means being axially movable in said bore between a neutral position in which said main uid passage connects said inlet port and said discharge port and an operating position in which said main uid passage connects said inlet port and said supply port; means for moving said piston means from said neutral position to said operating position; means for starting the return movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position; and hydraulic means operable in response port, to continue the movement of said piston means vtoward said neutral position until said main iiuid passage moves out of registry with said supply port.

10. In a valve device for a hydraulic system, the combination of: a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, an inlet port in said housing communicating with said bore, a discharge port in said housing communicating with said bore, and a supply port in said housing communicating with said bore; cylindrical piston means in said bore and having a main fluid passage therein, said piston means being axially movable in said bore between a neutral position in which said main fluid passage connects said inlet port and said discharge port and an operating position in which said ,main uid passage connects said inlet port and said supply, port; means for moving said piston means from said neutral position to said operating position; means for starting the return movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position; and passage means in said piston adapted to open uid communication between said inlet port and one vend of said piston means the as said piston means moving from said operating position approaches a point at which said main fluid passage is about to move out of registry with said supply port.

l1. In a valve device, the combination of: a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, and having an inlet port and a supply port each communicating with said bore; piston means in said bore and having a main fluid passage therein, said piston means being axially movable in said bore between a neutral position in which said main fluid passage is out of registry with said supply port and an operating position in which said main fluid passage connects said inlet port and said supply port; means for moving said piston means from said neutral position to said operating position; means for starting the return movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position; and passage means adapted to connect said inlet port and one end of said piston means in response to movement of said piston means from said operating position toward said neutral position.

12. In a valve device, the combination of: a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, and having an inlet port and a supplyport each communicating with said bore; piston means in said bore and having a. main fluid passage ltherein, said piston means being axially movable in said bore between a neutral position in which said main fluid passage is out of registry with said supply port and an operating position in which said main fluid passage connects said inlet port and said supply port; means for moving said piston means from saidneutral position to said operating position; means for starting the return movement of said piston means from said operating position to said neutral position; and passage means adapted to connect said inlet port and one end of said piston means in response to movement of said piston means from said operating position toward said neutral position,` said passage means including a fluid passage in said piston means communicating with said main fluid passage and adapted to register with a fluid port communicating with said end of said piston means.

13. In a valve device, the combination of: a valve housing having a longitudinal bore therein, and having an inlet port, a first supply port, and a second supply port, each communicating with said bore; piston means in said bore and having a main :duid passage therein, said piston means being axially movable in said bore from a neutral position in which said main fluid passage is out of registry with said supply ports to a first operating position in which said main fluid passage connects said inlet port and said first supply port, or from said neutral position to a second operating position in which said main fluid passage connects said inlet port and said second supply port; means for selectively moving said piston means from said neutral position to either said iirst or second operating position; means for starting the return movement of said piston means from said operating positions toward said neutral position; first passage means adapted to connect said inlet port with one end of said piston means in response to movement of said piston means from said first operating position toward said neutral position; and second passage means adapted to connect said inlet port with the other end of said piston means in response to movement of said piston means from said second operating position toward said neutral position.

RAODNEY B. CAMPBELL. 

